Name: John Tsui Age: 21 years old Gender: Male Occupation: Student Social Class: Middle class Financial situation: Fairly good due to father’s stable occupation and income. Appearance: I am tall and muscular. I exercise everyday to keep my body healthy and fit. I am very big compared to other males of my age. Location: Nanking Habitual locations: I usually stay in my house. Sometimes, I go to the Yangtze river and meet up with my friends. Daily routine: I wake up early in the morning, wash up, and eat breakfast. Then, I go to my school to receive various education until 2 o’clock. I spend most of my time doing homework or my mom with the house work. I study very hard to gain knowledge and become a politician for the Chinese government. Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: I am smart. I study hard and learn the materials very quickly. I follow directions very well and respect the elders. I respect my teachers and my parents. I am very healthy and fit as well. When I was young, my father taught me how to fight and how to defend myself. I did not serve in the military yet, but I have knowledge and skill about fighting. I am very polite as well. Past/individual-family history: My dad spent a little bit of time in the military when he was young. However, he decided that he should study rather than serving time in the military. Family: I am the only child. My dad owns a small business. He sells food supplies to people in Nanking. Even though it is a personal business, my dad managed to develop it. Now, we have stable income. My mom does not have to work because my dad makes enough money. My mom stays in the house doing house work. Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them): I respect all elders and younger people that I come in contact with. Even if others are in lower classes than I am, I still give them my respect as we are equal people. I feel sympathy when others are suffering and will make the society better once I become a politician. Religion: Confucianism/Buddhism Education: I am currently receiving final years of my education. Portrait:
Diary #1: Calm before the Storm December 7th, 1937
I just heard the news that the Japanese have declared war on us. I was at school when I heard the news, and I thought it was a joke. Yet, when I thought about it once again, my colleagues wouldn’t joke around with such things. It was when I got home that the clarification were made. Japan did actually declare war on China. I heard from my dad that the Japanese had control over Tientsin-Peking region after the “incident” in Tientsin. My dad works, and he meets lots of people from different regions. It is pity that the Japanese declared war on us when one of the generals, Matsui Iwane, has tuberculosis and is lying on his bed. Also, we have much more men power than the Japanese. It will be difficult for them to defeat us. Yet, the Japanese are gaining more power everyday. They were smart enough to modernize, unlike the Chinese, and gain military power... It means that the Japanese have enough power to defeat the Chinese in the end. The thought of war is giving me shivers right now. I believe that I am old enough to get recruited when the war actually starts. I can’t believe myself killing other...humans beings! What happens if I die? I won’t be able to become a governor and change the society! I hope the war doesn’t start. I still can’t believe that the two nations are going to war. Nanking is not far from the coast line, which means that soon the Japanese can be walking up and down the streets! I wonder if I can defend the city from Japanese invasions...I still have lots of studying to do. Blood, the dead, the horror! On the other hand, there is no guarantee that the Japanese will get as far as Nanking. No matter what happens, I hope that the war doesn’t start somehow, for the sake of Japanese and Chinese citizens. Yet, I know that the war is inevitable at this point...
Diary # 2: A Knock at the Gate
December 7th, 1937
Dear Diary,
It has begun. The war has begun. The Japanese have already invaded Shanghai! I thought it would be impossible due to the number of Chinese soldiers, yet, they were able to invade Shanghai. I was disappointed to hear this. I was hoping that the Japanese invasion would stop there. Unfortunately, the Japanese proved to be powerful and skillful. Now, I am very scared. The Japanese’s next target will be Nanking! I have already heard that Japanese men are coming in to the city. I fear that soon, Chinese soldiers will be knocking on my door, telling me to come serve the country. I am fit, strong, and I know how to fight, however, I am not ready to actually fight against an armed soldier. Hopefully, I won’t get recruited into the army. The Japanese are coming towards Nanking from three sides and will invade from all three sides. I am getting frightened. I live near the Yangtze river, which is one of their courses. I believe that they are almost here, to invade, to kill. I heard that the general is brutal. A simple knock on the door or a spoon falling to the floor, are giving me shivers. I am on my toes, wishing that nothing will happen to me and my family during this invasion. However, I know that it is impossible. By now, I think the Japanese are closing in on Nanking. I hear people yelling and people panicking outside in the streets. It is an uncomfortable sight to watch and noise to hear. I wish that I had all the power to defeat the Japanese and put the Chinese people to peace once again, but I do not. By tomorrow, the Japanese will be all over the city. In streets, work places, shops, and even homes. It will be devastating for the civilians if the army can’t stop them.
While I was coming back from school, which closed now, I saw a Japanese soldier walking towards me. I wanted to run away, but I was afraid that the soldier was going to shoot me. I have a family to take care of, I cannot or even want to die. Instead of running away, I walked up with my head down. I could see the soldier’s feet stop right in front of me. His name was Guoto Kenta. He assured me that he’s not going to kill me. He was...different from other soldiers. He was more soft and warm-hearted. I told him that most civilians aren’t armed in any way, and that the Chinese army is not strong. At first, I thought the Chinese army was strong. However, the Japanese proved to be stronger by capturing Shanghai. After our short conversation in Chinese since Guoto Kenta could speak a little, he told me to evacuate as many civilians as possible. But how was I supposed to evacuate all those people? To where was I supposed to evacuate them? I may be strong and muscular, I seem to lack courage. I stood there for minutes, thinking about what to do, but I couldn’t think of anything, and returned home. I was disappointed in myself.
Diary # 3: The Gates Come Tumbling Down December 15th, 1937
Deary diary,
Fear, death, hopelessness are filling the streets of Nanking. The Japanese are killing or capturing all soldiers. The Japanese soldiers are killing Chinese civilians if they do not follow their directions. It is awful. There are people lying dead or injured in the streets, without any help from others. I am sorry to say this to my neighbors, but it was disgusting. I wish I could have been more help to them, but I just did not have much courage or skill. What’s going to happen to Nanking now? All the soldiers and civilians are being slaughtered, while Chinese women are being used as comfort women to satisfy the sexual desires of Japanese soldiers. Nanking is coming to an end. Fortunately, I was not recruited into the army, so I can hide at home and try to live in hiding until the war is over. I just need to stay with my family, maybe until general Matsui Iwane recovers from tuberculosis. I know that Matsui will treat us better because of his religious ideas. He has a warm heart. I believe that he is supposed to come tomorrow. I guess he is feeling better and wants to use his power once again. I wonder if all the unnecessary killing and raping stops when General Matsui Iwane comes into the city. The soldier I met a week ago seems to be like Iwane. He was soft... and warm hearted. He had some sympathy for the Chinese unlike other soldiers. Other Japanese soldiers are brutally killing and raping the Chinese. The most cruel thing is that the Japanese soldiers enjoy doing it. They don’t feel any sympathy for the Chinese. It is scary. How the Japanese act is the scariest thing. The Japanese are scarier than the environment that we have to live in. There are dead bodies all around the city. The Yangtze river has a tone of color red due to all the Chinese soldiers that were thrown in. There are pools of blood like pools of rain water. I really do not want to live like this.
Diary # 4: Through the Gates into Hell December 25th, 1937
Dear diary,
Nanking is in the verge of getting conquered by the Japanese. Chinese soldiers were slaughtered with no mercy by the Japanese. I think our army is weak. We don’t have any powerful technology and weapons like the Japanese. The Japanese moved on from killing soldiers, to killing civilians now. I think most of the soldiers who tried to protect Nanking are now dead. The civilians are their next target. However, I guess it is better than before. After General Matsui’s visit to Nanking, less slaughtering and raping are occurring. It did not stop, but at least the number decreased. He said that he was disappointed in many of the soldiers and felt deep sorrow for what happened in Nanking...I think he’s the only one who has true sympathy for the Chinese. Other soldiers were just brutal. Today, I was just outside my house, when I saw my former professor! He was my favorite professor in university. His name is Wang Xiaozhang. He looked pale than usual. Maybe it was all the running and hiding from Japanese soldiers. It was great to see him. We talked for hours about how the Japanese are creating so much fear even after they killed all soldiers in Nanking. We thought that they should leave as soon as possible, but I knew they wouldn’t. There wouldn’t have been any point to invade Nanking if they were going to leave right away. However, it was difficult for Chinese civilians in Nanking to carry on with their lives when the Japanese soldiers are pointing their gun in our face. I think they are trying to kill every single person left in Nanking. In that case, I should run away to a different city. I do not want to live with this fear and anxiety because of Japanese soldiers. Anyways, it was great meeting my professor once more in my life. He is a great man, along with many other men around me.
Diary # 5: A Survivor January 12th, 1980
Dear diary,
It has been a long time since I have written a diary entry. It has been a long time since the rape of Nanking as well. The memories of the attack on Nanking is still fresh in my head. It was horrible. It was unutterably disgusting and inhumane. I still get shivers when I think about the past days when the Japanese soldiers were capturing and killing Chinese people. I lost many of my great companions, teachers, and neighbors during this invasion. Especially professor Wang Xiaozhang. I have lost contact with him after our last talk he departed from Nanking. I remember him saying that he was running away to Beijing. It is sad that I now lost contact with lots of my old friends. I do not even know if they survived or not. It was an awful experience that I would like to erase all of my memories of. However, I cannot do that. The images, the noises, the faces are vividly stuck in my head that I cannot erase them from my head. It is horrible. I even have nightmares about the rape of Nanking. It has been about forty years since, yet the events are fresh in my head. I am still angry at the Japanese. Chinese survivors are living in constant fear of the memories and the fear that the invasion of Nanking might happen again. However, the Japanese are happily living on with their lives without much feeling of sorrow, at least they are not expressing their feelings. I am sixty four now. I believe that I still have more days to live, but if I have to live with this fear, then it might not be so good to live. I get frustrated when I remember things I do not want to recall. If all Japanese soldiers were like Guoto Kenta who had a warm heart, Chinese survivors will not be living with frustration and anger.
Age: 21 years old
Gender: Male
Occupation: Student
Social Class: Middle class
Financial situation: Fairly good due to father’s stable occupation and income.
Appearance: I am tall and muscular. I exercise everyday to keep my body healthy and fit. I am very big compared to other males of my age.
Location: Nanking
Habitual locations: I usually stay in my house. Sometimes, I go to the Yangtze river and meet up with my friends.
Daily routine: I wake up early in the morning, wash up, and eat breakfast. Then, I go to my school to receive various education until 2 o’clock. I spend most of my time doing homework or my mom with the house work. I study very hard to gain knowledge and become a politician for the Chinese government.
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: I am smart. I study hard and learn the materials very quickly. I follow directions very well and respect the elders. I respect my teachers and my parents. I am very healthy and fit as well. When I was young, my father taught me how to fight and how to defend myself. I did not serve in the military yet, but I have knowledge and skill about fighting. I am very polite as well.
Past/individual-family history: My dad spent a little bit of time in the military when he was young. However, he decided that he should study rather than serving time in the military.
Family: I am the only child. My dad owns a small business. He sells food supplies to people in Nanking. Even though it is a personal business, my dad managed to develop it. Now, we have stable income. My mom does not have to work because my dad makes enough money. My mom stays in the house doing house work.
Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them): I respect all elders and younger people that I come in contact with. Even if others are in lower classes than I am, I still give them my respect as we are equal people. I feel sympathy when others are suffering and will make the society better once I become a politician.
Religion: Confucianism/Buddhism
Education: I am currently receiving final years of my education.
Portrait:
Diary #1: Calm before the Storm
December 7th, 1937
I just heard the news that the Japanese have declared war on us. I was at school when I heard the news, and I thought it was a joke. Yet, when I thought about it once again, my colleagues wouldn’t joke around with such things. It was when I got home that the clarification were made. Japan did actually declare war on China. I heard from my dad that the Japanese had control over Tientsin-Peking region after the “incident” in Tientsin. My dad works, and he meets lots of people from different regions. It is pity that the Japanese declared war on us when one of the generals, Matsui Iwane, has tuberculosis and is lying on his bed. Also, we have much more men power than the Japanese. It will be difficult for them to defeat us. Yet, the Japanese are gaining more power everyday. They were smart enough to modernize, unlike the Chinese, and gain military power... It means that the Japanese have enough power to defeat the Chinese in the end. The thought of war is giving me shivers right now. I believe that I am old enough to get recruited when the war actually starts. I can’t believe myself killing other...humans beings! What happens if I die? I won’t be able to become a governor and change the society! I hope the war doesn’t start. I still can’t believe that the two nations are going to war. Nanking is not far from the coast line, which means that soon the Japanese can be walking up and down the streets! I wonder if I can defend the city from Japanese invasions...I still have lots of studying to do. Blood, the dead, the horror! On the other hand, there is no guarantee that the Japanese will get as far as Nanking. No matter what happens, I hope that the war doesn’t start somehow, for the sake of Japanese and Chinese citizens. Yet, I know that the war is inevitable at this point...
Diary # 2: A Knock at the Gate
December 7th, 1937
Dear Diary,
It has begun. The war has begun. The Japanese have already invaded Shanghai! I thought it would be impossible due to the number of Chinese soldiers, yet, they were able to invade Shanghai. I was disappointed to hear this. I was hoping that the Japanese invasion would stop there. Unfortunately, the Japanese proved to be powerful and skillful. Now, I am very scared. The Japanese’s next target will be Nanking! I have already heard that Japanese men are coming in to the city. I fear that soon, Chinese soldiers will be knocking on my door, telling me to come serve the country. I am fit, strong, and I know how to fight, however, I am not ready to actually fight against an armed soldier. Hopefully, I won’t get recruited into the army. The Japanese are coming towards Nanking from three sides and will invade from all three sides. I am getting frightened. I live near the Yangtze river, which is one of their courses. I believe that they are almost here, to invade, to kill. I heard that the general is brutal. A simple knock on the door or a spoon falling to the floor, are giving me shivers. I am on my toes, wishing that nothing will happen to me and my family during this invasion. However, I know that it is impossible. By now, I think the Japanese are closing in on Nanking. I hear people yelling and people panicking outside in the streets. It is an uncomfortable sight to watch and noise to hear. I wish that I had all the power to defeat the Japanese and put the Chinese people to peace once again, but I do not. By tomorrow, the Japanese will be all over the city. In streets, work places, shops, and even homes. It will be devastating for the civilians if the army can’t stop them.
While I was coming back from school, which closed now, I saw a Japanese soldier walking towards me. I wanted to run away, but I was afraid that the soldier was going to shoot me. I have a family to take care of, I cannot or even want to die. Instead of running away, I walked up with my head down. I could see the soldier’s feet stop right in front of me. His name was Guoto Kenta. He assured me that he’s not going to kill me. He was...different from other soldiers. He was more soft and warm-hearted. I told him that most civilians aren’t armed in any way, and that the Chinese army is not strong. At first, I thought the Chinese army was strong. However, the Japanese proved to be stronger by capturing Shanghai. After our short conversation in Chinese since Guoto Kenta could speak a little, he told me to evacuate as many civilians as possible. But how was I supposed to evacuate all those people? To where was I supposed to evacuate them? I may be strong and muscular, I seem to lack courage. I stood there for minutes, thinking about what to do, but I couldn’t think of anything, and returned home. I was disappointed in myself.
Diary # 3: The Gates Come Tumbling Down
December 15th, 1937
Deary diary,
Fear, death, hopelessness are filling the streets of Nanking. The Japanese are killing or capturing all soldiers. The Japanese soldiers are killing Chinese civilians if they do not follow their directions. It is awful. There are people lying dead or injured in the streets, without any help from others. I am sorry to say this to my neighbors, but it was disgusting. I wish I could have been more help to them, but I just did not have much courage or skill. What’s going to happen to Nanking now? All the soldiers and civilians are being slaughtered, while Chinese women are being used as comfort women to satisfy the sexual desires of Japanese soldiers. Nanking is coming to an end. Fortunately, I was not recruited into the army, so I can hide at home and try to live in hiding until the war is over. I just need to stay with my family, maybe until general Matsui Iwane recovers from tuberculosis. I know that Matsui will treat us better because of his religious ideas. He has a warm heart. I believe that he is supposed to come tomorrow. I guess he is feeling better and wants to use his power once again. I wonder if all the unnecessary killing and raping stops when General Matsui Iwane comes into the city. The soldier I met a week ago seems to be like Iwane. He was soft... and warm hearted. He had some sympathy for the Chinese unlike other soldiers. Other Japanese soldiers are brutally killing and raping the Chinese. The most cruel thing is that the Japanese soldiers enjoy doing it. They don’t feel any sympathy for the Chinese. It is scary. How the Japanese act is the scariest thing. The Japanese are scarier than the environment that we have to live in. There are dead bodies all around the city. The Yangtze river has a tone of color red due to all the Chinese soldiers that were thrown in. There are pools of blood like pools of rain water. I really do not want to live like this.
Diary # 4: Through the Gates into Hell
December 25th, 1937
Dear diary,
Nanking is in the verge of getting conquered by the Japanese. Chinese soldiers were slaughtered with no mercy by the Japanese. I think our army is weak. We don’t have any powerful technology and weapons like the Japanese. The Japanese moved on from killing soldiers, to killing civilians now. I think most of the soldiers who tried to protect Nanking are now dead. The civilians are their next target. However, I guess it is better than before. After General Matsui’s visit to Nanking, less slaughtering and raping are occurring. It did not stop, but at least the number decreased. He said that he was disappointed in many of the soldiers and felt deep sorrow for what happened in Nanking...I think he’s the only one who has true sympathy for the Chinese. Other soldiers were just brutal. Today, I was just outside my house, when I saw my former professor! He was my favorite professor in university. His name is Wang Xiaozhang. He looked pale than usual. Maybe it was all the running and hiding from Japanese soldiers. It was great to see him. We talked for hours about how the Japanese are creating so much fear even after they killed all soldiers in Nanking. We thought that they should leave as soon as possible, but I knew they wouldn’t. There wouldn’t have been any point to invade Nanking if they were going to leave right away. However, it was difficult for Chinese civilians in Nanking to carry on with their lives when the Japanese soldiers are pointing their gun in our face. I think they are trying to kill every single person left in Nanking. In that case, I should run away to a different city. I do not want to live with this fear and anxiety because of Japanese soldiers. Anyways, it was great meeting my professor once more in my life. He is a great man, along with many other men around me.
Diary # 5: A Survivor
January 12th, 1980
Dear diary,
It has been a long time since I have written a diary entry. It has been a long time since the rape of Nanking as well. The memories of the attack on Nanking is still fresh in my head. It was horrible. It was unutterably disgusting and inhumane. I still get shivers when I think about the past days when the Japanese soldiers were capturing and killing Chinese people. I lost many of my great companions, teachers, and neighbors during this invasion. Especially professor Wang Xiaozhang. I have lost contact with him after our last talk he departed from Nanking. I remember him saying that he was running away to Beijing. It is sad that I now lost contact with lots of my old friends. I do not even know if they survived or not. It was an awful experience that I would like to erase all of my memories of. However, I cannot do that. The images, the noises, the faces are vividly stuck in my head that I cannot erase them from my head. It is horrible. I even have nightmares about the rape of Nanking. It has been about forty years since, yet the events are fresh in my head. I am still angry at the Japanese. Chinese survivors are living in constant fear of the memories and the fear that the invasion of Nanking might happen again. However, the Japanese are happily living on with their lives without much feeling of sorrow, at least they are not expressing their feelings. I am sixty four now. I believe that I still have more days to live, but if I have to live with this fear, then it might not be so good to live. I get frustrated when I remember things I do not want to recall. If all Japanese soldiers were like Guoto Kenta who had a warm heart, Chinese survivors will not be living with frustration and anger.
Bibliography:
"The Promise of Gold Mountain: Tucson's Chinese Heritage." Through Our Parents Eyes. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. <http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/promise/railroad.html>
Chang, Iris. The Rape of Nanking: the Forgotten Holocaust of World War II. New York: Penguin, 1998. Print.
"File:Shanghai Nanking Road 1930s.jpeg." Wikimedia Commons. 21 Sept. 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shanghai_Nanking_Road_1930s.jpeg>.
"Nanking Massacre." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanking_Massacre>.
"Nanking Review, Preview, Photos, Posters, Trailers, Videos, Cast, Trivia, Quizzes, Box Office, News | WorstPreviews.com." WorstPreviews.com. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://www.worstpreviews.com/review.php?id=838§ion=review>.
"Review of The Rape of Nanking." Bookmice.net Index. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/japan/nanking.html>.